HEMINGWAY SHORTS, the annual literary anthology published by the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park, aims to highlight emerging voices in short fiction. Eleven stories will be selected for publication by an appointed review panel, with one overall winner receiving an award of $1,000. The current Writer-in-Residence will support authors in refining and editing their work as needed. This contest is not intended to recognize writers who emulate Hemingway; instead, it serves as a platform to celebrate a wide range of talent, narratives, and voices.
In addition, we manage two (2) college scholarship high school essay contests held annually for local area high schools in the following school districts: D200 Oak Park-River Forest, D201 Berwyn-Cicero/Morton, D208 Riverside-Brookfield, D209 Proviso Township, and D401 Elmwood Park. The chosen student essays are published within this literary journal and receives a $1,500 scholarship to their chosen higher learning institution.
The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park is a literary arts and educational organization that strives to preserve and explore the creative excellence embodied in the life and writing of Ernest Hemingway. In providing opportunities for students, scholars, and visitors to better understand Hemingway and his work, the Foundation enables them to experience what it means to be a disciplined writer influenced by local and world events, as well as by personal and cultural values.
In addition to honoring the past, the Foundation also is dedicated to the present and future, by striving to support creative writers and artists of all kinds, to hear their stories, to collectively engage both artists and audiences in serving as a community cornerstone.
As part of our mission to foster understanding of the life and work of Ernest Hemingway, as well as nurture the value of thoughtful reading and writing, The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park seeks a Writer-in-Residence (WIR) to serve as an foundation ambassador to offer educational programming in exchange for Writer-in-Residence recognition and a writing space to work on personal projects of prose, memoir, fiction, and/or poetry in the birthplace home. The WIR Term begins in July, 2026 through July, 2027. (Please note this is writing space position, not a live-in residency program) If you would like to serve as our Writer-in-Residence, The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park invites you to review and complete the following application, which is part of our ongoing effort to share and preserve Hemingway’s Birthplace Home, the center of his Oak Park legacy. Seeking: Writer with a regional or national publishing presence (periodicals or book(s)) Strong presenter with mentoring experience Some experience working with high school students preferred Some editing experience preferred WIR Service Commitment: Along with offering a place to write and work, the Foundation also asks the WIR to commit to service, acting as an ambassador for the Foundation's mission. The Writer-in-Residence (WIR) will serve as a foundation ambassador committed to upholding our mission. The following are the main tasks (but not limited to) related to fulfilling their role. 1) The WIR will provide an educational program on a quarterly basis for a period of two years. The WIR and the Foundation Executive Director will agree to program content, dates and times. 2) The WIR will assist with the editing and publication of our annual literary journal, Hemingway Shorts. 3) The WIR will also manage the Hemingway Foundation Scholarship essay review and selection process, and mentor the winner of our this Scholarship contest on an annual basis. The scholarship is awarded each year to a rising junior at one of the local area high schools. The WIR mentors this student through the senior year as needed to assist them with their writing goals as determined by the WIR and student. The WIR applicant confirms they will reside within the greater Chicagoland area during their term. You must plan to have residency in the greater Chicagoland area for your term to ensure availability to fulfill programming and mentoring duties. Upload file(s) with the following:
- Educational Background/Resume/Curriculum Vitae (upload pdf/doc file)
- Sample(s) of Your Writing: Essay/Memoir/Fiction of no more than 1500 words and/or at least four completed works of poetry.
- Description/list of Previous Published Works (upload pdf/doc file)
- Description of the written project you intend to pursue as our Writer-in-Residence (upload pdf/doc file)
- Description of educational workshops and programs you have presented. Please include the number of attendees and the length of the program (upload pdf/doc file)